tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82258499774747435952018-03-06T07:16:26.566-08:00The Main Street NewsstandMusings about The Walt Disney Company,reviews of books related to the Disney theme parks and resorts, and what have you.Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-43448460442316279692012-03-05T21:32:00.003-08:002012-03-05T23:36:55.912-08:00It Was The Best of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times...Not too long ago, I was reading a wonderful article on MousePlanet written by Disney historian and all-around cool guy Jim Korkis; in one of his columns, Jim talked about the substantial collection of books in Walt's "working office" and what these books said and didn't say about his interests. (The article can be found <a href="http://www.mouseplanet.com/9836/Whats_On_Walts_Bookshelves">here</a> if you're interested.) Jim's comments about Walt's love of books got me wondering: Is it easier or harder to be a bookworm now than it was in Walt's time? Let's consider a few facts:<br /><br />* <em> Thanks to the Internet, it's easier and cheaper than ever to find a book.</em> Amazon.com is practically a bibliophile's dream come true; type the name of a book you've heard of into Amazon's search bar, and if it's in print (and in many cases, even if it's not), you'll be able to find and purchase a copy and have it shipped to you. If the book's not yet in print, you'll be told when it'll be available. And that's just one website; if you're not having any luck at Amazon, there's bn.com, half.com, powells.com, eBay, Craigslist... I could name dozens of places online to go looking for a book. <br /><br />* <em>Thanks to the Internet, it's harder than ever to find a bookstore.</em> Amazon and its sister sites are a bookstore owner's nightmare. It's hard to keep a bookstore open when a good percentage of your customers can come in, find a book, and then put it back on the shelf because they know they can go home and buy it cheaper online. It's even harder when potential customers never come into your store in the first place, or come into your store to grab a cup of coffee and use the store as a substitute for a public library. It doesn't matter if we're talking about big chains (anybody remember Waldenbooks, B. Dalton, and Borders?) or Mom-and-Pop independents - the brick-and-mortar bookstore is dying a slow death; many brick-and-mortar options that remain (like Costco and Wal-Mart) may only have a few best-sellers of you're lucky, while others are busy restocking their shelves with toys and knick-knacks instead of books(Barnes and Noble, I'm looking at you). And if you're hoping to find a brick-and-mortar store with a good selection of books on more unusual topics like, say, the Disney theme parks? Forget it. <br /><br />* <em>The Internet has made finding used and out of print books a lot easier.</em> When I was a kid, if you wanted to find a rare or out of print book, you were going to spend a lot of time searching or were going to need some luck. I foumd the oldest book in my collection, a book on monorails, at a thrift store back in the mid-1970's, and it just a case of the right book being in the right place at the right time. A few minutes ago, I searched for that same book on abebooks.com and found 13 copies in a matter of seconds; with a few clicks, I could purchase a copy of that book from a store in a city I've never been to, and have it in my hands in just a few days. If I really want an out-of-print book, I could probably find it and get it pretty quickly. <br /><br />* <em>The Internet has taken all the fun out of finding used and out of print books.</em> It's also taken all the fun out of searching for new books, for that matter. Any collector will tell you that one of the best parts of finding something to add to their collection is the thrill of the hunt, and books are no exception. I don't know how many afternoons I've spent browsing bhe shelves in big and small used and antiquarian bookstores, hoping to find something I didn't already have; when I found a new book for my collection, I really felt like I'd found something special. I've never gotten that same feeling from searching on a website.<br /><br />* <em> There are more options for authors looking to get their books published. </em> In the last few years, I've discovered a lot of great books about Disney written by first-time authors - more so than probably any time ever. There's a good reason for that - there are a lot more options available for self-publishing; thanks to the Internet, it's easier and cheaper to put together and publish a book than it's ever been. That means a lot of folks with stories to tell will have a better shot at telling them.<br /><br />* <em> There are more obstacles for authors looking to get their books sold or distributed.</em> It's never been easy for the author of a book to get noticed or get picked up by a major publisher, but these days, it seems like it's even more difficult. With so many books being published by online publishers, and with online bookstores being the most viable option for book sales, it's harder for a first-time author to get the attenton of a major publisher. Consolidation among the media companies means that there are fewer big publishers available to publish a book in any case, and the few remaining big publishers are less willing to take a chance on an new author, no matter how good the book is or how much buzz it's generating. <br /><br />* <em> Disney appears to be making more of an effort to get books about things Disney published. </em> I've noticed that in the last couple of years, Disney's made more of an effort to get books of interest to Disney fans - and not just to kids - published. In the last couple of years alone, Disney has published several new books and revised editions of classic books on animation, Imagineering, architecture, and details in the Disney theme parks. Many books feature a D23 imprint on the back cover - I'm not sure if it's D23 and its members that are helping to spur this or if it's just a gimmick to get D23 members to but these books, but if it helps to get Disney to publish more books, I'm all for it. That being said...<br /><br />*<em> Disney appears to be making less of an effort to get souvenir books on the Disney parks published. </em> I love collecting the hardcover souvenir guides to the Disney theme parks. They do a wonderful job of capturing a moment in Disney park history, the photography's always wonderful, and many of them share some great concept art and behind-the-scenes stories of the theme parks' classic attractions. But the last hardcover souvenir book about Disneyland was published in 2010, and the last one about Walt Disney World appears to have been published in 2008. I think we're more than overdue. Several of the new titles with the D23 imprint are thin softcover books - they're cheap and they're quick to read, but you're out of luck if you want more information. <br /><br />So, it it better or worse to be a collector of books, specifically books on the Disney theme parks, in 2012? I'd have say that the answer's an unqualified yes. :) In some respects, this couldn't be a better time to love to read and collect books; in others, things couldn't be worse, and it doesn't look like things will get better anytime soon. In the end, we readers have to take the good with the bad, enjoying the great opportunities and the wonderful reading out there, and hoping that some of the negative things will improve. But that's my opinion - what are your thoughts?Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-75259542133559524432012-01-17T22:41:00.000-08:002012-01-17T23:15:36.556-08:00...And (Finally) We're Back!Hello, everyone! I'd like to welcome everyone (or welcome you back, whichever the case may be) to The Main Street Newsstand, formerly known as Disney Theme Park Book Reviews.<br /><br />A long time ago in what seems like a galaxy far, far away, I posted reviews of current and out-of-print books having to do with the Disney theme parks. I stopped updating the blog more than two years ago because life got in the way and something had to give. Since then, my life's gone through a few more changes, and I discovered that I've really missed writing just for the fun of writing, so I'm blowin' the dust off of this ol' blog and getting things going again. <br /><br />Although my focus will still primarily be reviewing books about the Disney parks - and trust me, I've got a lot of books on my bookshelf that I can review! - I'm expanding the scope fo the blog a little bit so that I can comment on some of the interesting, frustrating, and just plain odd things that I see the Walt Disney Company doing as they run and promote their theme parks and resorts. I'm hoping that by expanding the focus a bit, I can provide content a little more regularly; one of the big challenges of writing reviews is that I insist on reading or re-reading the books I review, and sometimes all my commmitments don't always give me a chance to bet as caught up on my reading. Fortunately, expressing whatever opinions I have doesn't require a lot of prep time! <br /><br />I don't know for sure how long I'll keep the Main Street Newsstand open and how often a new item will be on display, but whatever happens, it'll be fun. I hope you'll join me as I embark on a new adventure!Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-45161607522586833102009-12-19T14:33:00.000-08:002009-12-19T15:27:51.917-08:00The Biggest WDW Guidebook Of Them All<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/Sy1gi5_IvJI/AAAAAAAAAHc/gTUqSp2voX0/s1600-h/UG+WDW+2010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 121px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417092079594028178" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/Sy1gi5_IvJI/AAAAAAAAAHc/gTUqSp2voX0/s200/UG+WDW+2010.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010, by Bob Sehlinger with Len Testa. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, 2009, 850 pp. </em></div><div><em></em></div><br /><div>As you folks who read this blog regularly know, I love to read a good guidebook about a Disney theme park. Not only can they be helpful in making the most of a visit to a park you're not familiar with, they serve as a snapshot of what a particular park was like at a certain time; if I ever need to settle a bet about whether or not an attraction was open or not in a certain year, I almost always turn to my collection of guidebooks. I figured it was about time that I turn my attention to one of the biggest (in terms of popularity and in terms of size) out there, so this time we'll be reviewing the grandaddy of all Walt Disney World guidebooks. </div><div></div><br /><div><em>The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World</em> has got to be one of the most comprehensive guides to planning and enjoying a Walt Disney World vacation. From providing resources and suggestions for planning a trip to central Florida to in-depth discussions of lodging, food and entertainment options, as well as a comprehensive guide to all of the Disney theme parks and a couple of the non-Disney parks, the <em>Unofficial Guide</em> just about has it all; if there's something you need to know about Walt Disney World that isn't in this book, I haven't found it yet. Unlike most guidebooks, the <em>Unofficial Guide's </em>advice isn't solely based on the knowledge of a well-traveled author (although Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa certainly have lots of experience traveling to WDW); the book also depends heavily on the opinions of its readers to provide judgements on attractions and restaurants and on computer algorithms to determine the best plans for touring the parks. Also unlike some guides, the <em>Unofficial Guide </em>is opinionated - not just about whether an attraction, hotel, or restaurant is good or bad, but also about some of Disney's policies and business decisions, but the opinions are based on a love of and respect for the product. </div><div></div><br /><div>As you may have guessed by that lengthy synopsis (well, hey, it's a lengthy book!), I really enjoy reading and using the <em>Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World</em>. It's a great source of information on what's new and what's changed (for better or for worse) at the Disney theme parks, and it's a great read to boot. Bob and Len provide a lot of useful stuff in this book, whether it's your first trip or your 51st, and they provide it in a witty and opinionated style that prevents all the knowledge being provided to you from being overwhelming. Bob and Len aren't afraid to bite the gloved hand that feeds them, but you never get the impression that it's meant out of spite or solely to stir up controversy. </div><div></div><br /><div>So who's not going to like this book? Well, first and foremost, if you're one of those people who prefers to see the (Walt Disney) World through Mouse-colored glasses, this probably isn't the book for you; Bob and Len aren't afraid to criticize Disney if it's warranted, but there'll always be people who think that Disney can do no wrong, and they won't be happy to be told otherwise. </div><br /><div>I know some folks are going to be intimidated by the sheer size of this book. (An important note: Don't drop this book in the vicinity of your foot or any small children or pets - you'll probably do some damage.) The <em>Unofficial Guide </em>probably<em> </em>isn't the book to pick up in the airport newsstand while you're waiting for your flight to Orlando, because it's going to require you to invest a little of your time; it's better to invest a little of your time before you go than to invest a lot more time and money when you get there because you didn't pick up some important advice. (If the size of the book really is a problem, look for the <em>Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World Mini-Mickey</em>, which is a condensed version of the regular <em>Unofficial Guide</em>.)One other minor quibble I have with the guide: Does it have to have so much of the illustrations and text in blue? There's nothing wrong with blue, you understand, it just gets overwhelming after a while, particularly if you're crazy like me and read it from cover to cover. Aside from that, no worries.</div><div></div><br /><div><em>The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010</em> is a comprehensive, informative,and well-written guide to planning, enjoying, and saving time and money on a Walt Disney World vacation. The book will require a little more time to read and review because of its size, but it's time well-spent; readers who prefer their Disney guidebooks with a little less opinion or heft and a bit more pixie dust may want to consider another guidebook, such as the <em>Birnbaum Walt Disney World</em> or the <em>PassPorter Walt Disney World</em> guidebooks. The book can readily be found at most major chain and online bookstores, as well as independent bookstores with a good selection of travel books. </div><div></div><br /><div>Oh, and one last thing: Happy holidays, everyone! Thanks for reading, and I promise lots more fun and interesting reviews in 2010. </div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-8557105608095497022009-11-29T21:19:00.000-08:002009-11-29T23:46:12.980-08:00A Challenge From The Mouse<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SxNyxIWGdiI/AAAAAAAAAHU/sdQHYJGQ5BM/s1600/Disneyland+Challenge.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409793765781435938" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SxNyxIWGdiI/AAAAAAAAAHU/sdQHYJGQ5BM/s200/Disneyland+Challenge.jpg" /></a><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em>Disneyland Challenge, by Jim Fanning; Jody Revenson , senior editor. New York: Disney Editions/D23, 2009, 128 pp. </em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div>There are few things that I enjoy more than a book that tests my knowledge of the Disney theme parks. It's not that I think I know everything there is to know about the parks, you understand; I've learned a lot about the Disney parks over the years, but I realize that there's always going to be more for me to discover. But it's kinda fun to see how much I do know, and when I get a few (or more than a few) questions wrong, at least I know that I've picked up some more interesting bits of information about the parks. Apparently I'm not the only one who enjoys getting quizzed on how much I know about the Disney theme parks, because Disney recently released a new book that promises to "put (readers') Disneyland Resort knowledge to the test". For my latest review, I'm going to take up the <em>Disneyland Challenge </em>and see if the book lives up to the promises it makes on the cover.</div><div> </div><br /><div></div><div><em>Disneyland Challenge </em>is one of several books about the Disney theme parks recently released by Disney under the D23 label; the book is intended to test readers' knowledge of and provide readers information about the lands and attractions of Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, and the Downtown Disney district. The first thing you'll notice about the book is that it's been designed to be brought along with you as you visit and perhaps take a little punishment in the process; it has a multi-ring binder holding it together instead of traditional binding and the paper's thicker and glossier than the paper most guidebooks are made of. <em>Disneyland Challenge</em> is also formatted differently than most books about the parks; the book contains lots of images, and most of the text is in small multicolored boxes, with each box's color indicating a different category of information. To use the book, just flip through it until you find the page about the attraction or land you're visiting, and then start working on the challenges or start reading about some of the things you'll find there. To solve the challenges, look around and do your best to notice the little things all around you, because the answers to many of the challenges will often be in plain sight. </div><div> </div><div></div><br /><div>I have to give the folks who put <em>Disneyland Challenge </em>together points for really thinking outside the box - the format of this book's unlike any quiz book or guidebook about the Disney theme parks I've ever seen. I like the fact that this book encourages readers to bring the book along with them as they visit the theme parks and to pay attention to the little details that add to the overall experience - any book that encourages park guests to slow down a little and appreciate the full Disney experience is a good thing as far as I'm concerned. There's some interesting information in <em>Disneyland Challenge</em>; I think most Disneyland fans will learn at least a couple things they didn't know by reading this book, and more casual Disney fans might be encouraged by the discoveries they make while using this book to learn more about Disney history and to try and discover more Disney details.</div><div> </div><div></div><br /><div>Unfortunately, the unusual format of <em>Disneyland Challenge</em> is as much a drawback as it is something that sets the book apart. The book tries so hard to be visually exciting, with lots of images and comic book inspired title and text fonts, that the information being provided seems to get lost in the shuffle. Flipping through the book to find an attraction is an interesting idea, but the book should have still included an index and numbered pages for the benefit of people who prefer to find something the traditional way. This book's really intended more for casual fans of the parks or folks who have just started discovering the history and details of the Disneyland Resort. Readers who are more familiar with the Resort aren't going to find the challenges all that challenging, whether they're in the Park when they read this book or not. Lastly, I'm really surprised that a book put out by Disney about two of its theme parks is so out of date; there are quite a few pages and more than a few photos in this book that reference attractions that no longer exist or that have been significantly changed. I realize that the Disney theme parks are in a constant state of change and no book about the parks will be 100% accurate, but the format of the book makes the mistakes more obvious. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>Disneyland Challenge </em>is a different take on the Disney theme park trivia book; its unusual format and reliance on images and brief bits of information and trivia make it an interesting way to enhance the Disney experience for the casual visitor, but the easy questions will frustrate the seasoned Disney park fan looking to test and expand their knowledge of the California Disney parks. If you're a more devoted fan, I'd recommend Kevin Yee's <em>Magic Quizdom</em> for some challenging Disneyland trivia questions, or try Lou Mongello's <em>Walt Disney World Trivia Book</em> series if you want to test your knowledge of the Florida theme parks. <em>Disneyland Challenge</em> is currently being sold at the Disneyland Resort or through Disneyland DelivEARS, but it may also be available online through third-party booksellers at a substantial markup from the cover price.</div><br /><div></div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-44854606870428298982009-09-29T20:34:00.000-07:002009-09-30T22:58:59.393-07:00An Artful Duo<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 154px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387099084341739314" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SsLSEzwFfzI/AAAAAAAAAHE/PuPVZVAJfx8/s200/Art+od+Disneyland.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 161px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387099165286105778" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SsLSJhSugrI/AAAAAAAAAHM/0h8_1RsyuOE/s200/Art+of+Walt+Disney+World.jpg" /><br /><br /><div><em>The Art of Disneyland and The Art of Walt Disney World, by Jeff Kurtti and Bruce Gordon. New York: Disney Editions, 2005; 131 pp. (Art of Disneyland)/2009; 139 pp. (Art of Walt Disney World). </em><br /></div><br /><div>Before we get started, I'd like to apologize to the folks who read this blog regularly for my extended absence. I wasn't planning to be away from here for so long, but some major speedbumps in my life got in the way. I'm not sure they're completely gone, but I enjoy bringing these reviews to you so much that I couldn't let this blog die. I hope you'll forgive me. Okay, so much for the mea culpas - on to the review...</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Every theme park attraction begins as an idea. Long before the ideas become reality in the Disney theme parks, some very talented people use their skills as artists to give others a feel for what those ideas will look like when they reach fruition. It's safe to say that many of our favorite attractions - in some cases, our favorite theme parks - might have never become reality without the drawings and paintings these people created. Unfortunately, we seldom get to see these beautiful pieces of concept art created for the Disney parks, which is a shame; not only do we miss out on seeing some significant pieces of Disney history, we miss out on the chance to enjoy some beautiful art. The books we're going to look at today give us a chance to enjoy and appreciate some of this artwork.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div><em>The Art of Disneyland </em>and <em>The Art of Walt Disney World </em>are two coffee table books that show us a few of the many pieces of concept art created by artists at Walt Disney Imagineering to inspire fellow Imagineers to create attractions or to inspire the public to visit those attractions. Some of the artists whose works are featured in these books - such as John Hench, Marc Davis, Mary Blair, and Sam McKim - will be very familiar to Disney theme park fans, as will some of the images, but there are many more drawings and paintings done by less famous names that are also featured. </div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>You'll see art for world-famous attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion and lesser known-attractions such as the Snow White Grotto at Disneyland, as well as concept art for attractions that were never built; you'll also get a look at Disney artists' visions of lands in the theme parks from several different periods in the parks' history, as well as see art for attractions that have long since disappeared from Anaheim and Orlando. </div><br /><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em>The Art of Disneyland </em>organizes the artwork by the lands the attractions were built in or were intended to be built in; <em>The Art of Walt Disney World </em>organizes the artwork by themes, such as nostalgia, adventure, and fantasy. Both books feature biographies of some of the artists whose art is featured in each book and a little bit of text providing some background on the lands or the categories by which the books are organized. Most of the artwork is printed sideways, allowing the art to be presented in a large enough size for the reader to fully appreciate it, but small enough for the art to fit onto a single page.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>I enjoyed both of these books from the minute I opened the cover, and the last thing I wanted to do was to put either book down. The artwork is beautiful and is well reproduced, and there's a nice variety of artwork; unless you have friends who have taken you through the archives at Imagineering, I guarantee you that there will be art in each of these books that you've never seen before. </div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Jeff Kurtti and the late Bruce Gordon took a lot of care in choosing the art featured in these books, and it shows; in addition to including some of the drawings and paintings of the parks that are so iconic that you'd expect them to be in books like these, they included a nice selection of more obscure but equally beautiful work. For example, I'm a big fan of attraction posters, so I really enjoyed that <em>The Art of Walt Disney World </em>featured mini attraction posters created especially for the Main Street vehicles in the Magic Kingdom. Once you get used to holding the books on their sides, you learn to appreciate the decision of Jeff and Bruce to print the artwork sideways - in addition to enabling them to reproduce much of the art large enough to really take in the details, you avoid having to struggle to try and appreciate the art while a crease runs right through the middle of it.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Both <em>Th</em>e <em>Art of Disneyland </em>and<em> The Art of Walt Disney World</em> are amazing, but they're not perfect by any means. The biggest issue any Disney fan's going to have with these books is what you'll be paying for what you get; to put it bluntly, these books ain't cheap. <em>The Art of Disneyland</em> originally sold at the theme parks for $75.00, but is now available for a still pretty expensive suggested retail price of $49.95; <em>The Art of Walt Disney World</em> is available for $49.95 as well. That's a pretty steep price for books that are about 130 pages in length! As much as I'd love to buy multiple copies of these books and take them apart so I could frame and hang pages from them on my wall, I won't be doing it when these books cost that much. I wish both books had included some additional material, especially <em>The Art of Walt Disney World</em>; considering how much has been built at the World, I can't help but think that limiting the book to 130 or so pages meant that some really nice artwork was left out. (Well, I guess I can hope for a sequel to each of these books...)</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div><em>The Art of Disneyland</em> and <em>The Art of Walt Disney World</em> offer a fascinating glimpse into the archives of Walt Disney Imagineering, featuring some of the beautiful art created for the American Disney theme parks. While the books are a little thin and more than a little expensive, these books are a "must have" for any fan of the Disney parks. <em>The Art of Disneyland</em> is available through major retail booksellers like Amazon.com, as well as stores that carry a good selection of Disney literature, such as Compass Books at Disneyland's Downtown Disney district. (Please note that, aside from different art on the book jacket and some minor corrections, the current edition of <em>The Art of Disneyland</em> has the same content as the edition previously sold exclusively at the Disney theme parks.) <em>The Art of Walt Disney World</em> is currently available only at the Disney theme parks, although it can be purchased (at much higher prices than suggested retail) through the secondary market. </div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><br /><div></div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-91412849191428946642009-07-08T21:49:00.000-07:002009-07-08T23:08:35.034-07:00Bonjour, Mickey!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SlV248Kn25I/AAAAAAAAAG8/9FZk5qW7Y5I/s1600-h/Unofficial+Guide+to+DLP.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 111px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356318052422507410" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SlV248Kn25I/AAAAAAAAAG8/9FZk5qW7Y5I/s200/Unofficial+Guide+to+DLP.jpg" /></a><br /><em>The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris, 2<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> Edition, by Bob <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sehlinger</span>. New York: Hungry Minds, Inc. (Wiley and Sons), 2001, 229 pp.</em><br /><em></em><br />The birthday of The Happiest Place on Earth is almost here, so I think it's about time that I review another book about... Disneyland Paris. (Sorry, folks - when you engage in the "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">eeny</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">meeny</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">miney</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">moe</span>" method of pulling a book from the bookshelf, you never know what you're going to get.) Although I enjoy reading and doing reviews of just about any guidebook to the Disney theme parks, I especially enjoy finding and reading guidebooks about the overseas parks, because there just aren't that many books out there to help the armchair traveler/Disney fanatic to experience or plan for visiting those parks. Let's face it - if you want a book to plan for your trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World, even the smallest bookshop will have something available for you to browse and buy. But if you'd like to visit one of the parks in Paris, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hong</span> Kong, or Tokyo, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">lotsa</span> luck. Today, we'll be looking at an older book that provides tips on visiting Disney's first European theme park that carries the name of a well-regarded series of guides to Disney theme parks and other vacation spots. But does this book live up to the <em>Unofficial Guide</em> name? We'll see...<br /><br /><em>The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris </em>was the second attempt by Bob Sehlinger, the author of <em>The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland </em>and <em>The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, </em>to offer a guide to one of Disney's overseas parks (the first attempt was <em>The Unofficial Guide to Euro Disneyland,</em> published in 1993). The book provides helpful information on planning a trip to France to visit Mickey and his pals, including the best times of the year and the week to go, the various ways of getting to Disneyland Resort Paris, how to get to and from the resort to the City of Light, hotel options, attractions, and dining options. While the book's nowhere near as hefty as its more famous cousin <em>The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World (</em>which I'm convinced could kill small animals if dropped carelessly), it's got a lot of useful information, all presented in that famous unbiased and slightly <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">snarky</span> <em>Unofficial Guide </em>style. The book even has a brief but concise writeup on the history of Disneyland Paris and French attitudes toward the park, which is one of the better articles I've seen on the subject.<br /><br />I'm a big fan of the <em>Unofficial Guides (</em>as can be ascertained by the fact that I have quite a large collection of them!), and I'm glad to say that Bob <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sehlinger</span> and his team did a very good job with this book. The book provides a lot of good information and helpful tips for enjoying your Disneyland Paris vacation, including a few touring plans for the park. The book provides some good information about hotel and dining options in the villages surrounding the Disneyland Paris Resort, which I think is a nice touch (it's always good when guidebooks to Disney parks recognize that there are plenty of good options outside of Disney property). The book is a fun and easy read, and should feel familiar to the folks who have read the <em>Unofficial Guides </em>to the U.S. parks (maybe a little too familiar, but more on that in a moment).<br /><br /><em>The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris </em>does have a couple of problems. The biggest one is that the book hasn't been updated or reprinted since 2001, which means that you may want to verify any information in the book, especially as far as lodging and dining options, before you use it to plan your vacation. (I've heard that a new <em>Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris </em>may be in the works, and I certainly hope that's the case). While Bob provides a lot of unique information in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">this</span> book, fans of the series will recognize passages that were cribbed from the U.S. park editions of the <em>Unofficial Guide. </em>That doesn't make the advice in these passages invalid - certainly the Disneyland and Walt Disney World editions share a fair amount of information - but it's an unwelcome distraction. <br /><br />Unlike the <em>Unofficial Guides</em> to the U.S. parks, the <em>Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris</em> is relatively light on park maps - even for touring plans. That's disappointing, because the maps in the <em>Unofficial Guides</em> are among the better maps of the Disney parks that I've seen. My last quibble with the book is about something it has that the other books in the series don't have anymore - a brief guide to the attractions that are unique to the park. This is a really cool thing to include, and it'd be great to have something like this available again in all the <em>Unofficial Guides, </em> if only just to have something to show non-Disney fans that if you've seen one park, you have <em>not</em> in fact seen them all (Jay <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rasulo's</span> attempts to attempt to homogenize them <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">notwithstanding</span>).<br /><br /><em>The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris </em>is an informative, helpful, and opinionated guide to the Magic Kingdom in France. While it does take some information from guides in the series to the U.S. parks and is in desperate need of a new edition, it can still provide a Disney fan heading for Europe some good advice and suggestions for making the trip a little less expensive and stressful and a lot more fun. The book can be very tricky to find nowadays - it'll <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occasionally</span> pop up in used bookstores or some of the online sites <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">specializing</span> in older and out-of-print books.Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-4959780755165810052009-06-17T06:36:00.000-07:002009-06-19T15:37:11.165-07:00Not the Britannica for Disneyland, But A Nice Reference<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/Sjjy02ZENyI/AAAAAAAAAG0/BS2FkoEK7mM/s1600-h/Disneyland+Encyclopedia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348291547270231842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/Sjjy02ZENyI/AAAAAAAAAG0/BS2FkoEK7mM/s200/Disneyland+Encyclopedia.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>The Disneyland Encyclopedia: The Unofficial, Unauthorized, and Unprecedented History of Every Land, Attraction, Restaurant, Shop, and Event in the Original Magic Kingdom, by Chris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Strodder</span>. Santa Monica, CA; Santa Monica Press, 2008, 467 pp. <br /><br /></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div>One of the questions I get about this blog (besides "Why don't you post more often?") is "Do you actually read all the books you review?" I do indeed, cover to cover, even if I've read them before - which can sometimes be a neat trick with all the demands for my time. I can now say, however, that I actually found time to read an encyclopedia! But is it worth your time to read and refer to it? Well, hopefully you'll have your answer after this review.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><em><br /><br />The Disneyland Encyclopedia</em> attempts to provide all the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">information</span> that a Disneyland fan might need to settle an argument or refresh his or her memory. The book provides entries for the lands, major and minor attractions, shops, restaurants, events, key people involved, and important elements of Walt Disney's original theme park, and covers everything from the Park's groundbreaking to recent times. Obviously, the book doesn't cover everything about Disneyland - a book that did so thoroughly would be a lot larger than almost 500 pages - but it attempts to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cover</span> as much as possible given the constraints of a reasonably priced one-volume set. The book gives readers several ways to access information - by alphabetical listing, by index, by citations of other entries, and (most interestingly) by a set of maps of the Park with each location noted with a letter and number code. The book also contains numerous lists about things found (or previously found) in the Park, a decent <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bibliography</span>, and listing of relevant websites where readers can find additional information.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br />This book was a labor of love for its author, Chris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Strodder</span>, and it shows. Chris writes the book's entries in an entertaining and very accessible style; for the most part, he avoids being overwhelmingly positive or overwhelmingly cynical when writing about various elements of Disneyland, but he also manages to avoid being overly dry and refrains from being so obsessed with the minutiae of the Park that he runs the risk of boring or alienating his readers. The book is nicely illustrated with photographs from Disneyland (all in black and white, unfortunately); I particularly liked his use of photographs of windows on Main Street to illustrate his entries about Disney Legends involved in the creation of the Park and its attractions.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br />While overall I enjoyed <em>The Disneyland <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Encyclopedia</span></em>, I do have a few quibbles with the book. As you might expect with any project of this depth and breadth, there are a few errors - most of them about places and things outside of Disneyland, but I noticed that there seemed to be more mistakes about the Park near the end of the book than at the beginning (Chris was starting to run out of steam, perhaps?). Chris did a pretty good job with his research, considering he didn't use a lot of primary sources (it seems like his most of his primary source materials were old soft-cover souvenir guidebooks), but I wish that he'd taken the extra time to resolve some questions that his reference materials either didn't have answers for or had contradictory answers for. And, of course, <em>The Disneyland Encyclopedia</em> isn't a complete encyclopedia, by any means; there are a lot of things about the Park that aren't covered in the book or that I found myself wishing had been covered more <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">thoroughly</span>. That said, the book should provide the answers for most general queries fans have about the Park - and should even provide some new information for the Disneyland fan who thinks he or she knows everything.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><em><br /><br />The Disneyland Encyclopedia</em> is an interesting and fact filled reference book about Disney's first Magic Kingdom. While it does contain a few errors and isn't an all-encompassing guide to the Park, it should be a handy reference for Disney theme park fans looking for quick answers to questions they may have while pursuing their interests. The book is sure to be a welcome addition to any Disney fan's bookshelf. The book is readily available through numerous sources online and in many brick and mortar bookstores that carry a selection of books about Disney.</div><div></div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-12153105296721957142009-05-04T22:48:00.000-07:002009-05-05T19:54:43.559-07:00A Book For Learning the Whys of WDW<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/Sf_lk0tYGxI/AAAAAAAAAGs/U2iai-G4bE0/s1600-h/Unofficial+Disney+Companion.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332232904616975122" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/Sf_lk0tYGxI/AAAAAAAAAGs/U2iai-G4bE0/s200/Unofficial+Disney+Companion.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>The Unofficial Disney Companion: The Inside Story of Walt Disney World and the Man Behind the Mouse, by Eve Zibart. New York: Macmillan Travel, 1997; 213 pp. </em></div><div></div><br /><div>If you've spent any time in your local bookstore's travel section, you know that there are a lot of books that give tips on how to enjoy the Disney theme parks. A little less often, you'll run into a book that tries to do something different - that is, a book that attempts to explain the "whys" of Disney instead of the "hows". Instead of providing advice on how to see the most things in the least amount of time and for the least amount of money, these books tackle subjects like how Walt Disney influenced the design and operation of the Disney theme parks, or what the thousands of Disney cast members do backstage magic that creates the magic onstage. These books can be absolutely fascinating, but they can also be frustrating and difficult to understand - calling a couple of them "dense" would be a major understatement. Today, we're going to discuss a book that tries to tell the inside story of Walt Disney World in a way that the average park visitor can appreciate.</div><div></div><br /><div>As you may have guessed from its title<em>,</em> <em>The Unofficial Disney Companion</em> was intended as a companion piece to <em>The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World</em>. The book covers a lot of interesting aspects of the Walt Disney World story that tend to be given short shrift or get compeltely left out of the guidebooks, like why Walt wanted such a large parcel of land to build his Florida theme park, the challenges faced in making Walt's dream a reality, the times and trends that influenced Walt when he and the Imagineers created Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, and how Michael Eisner influenced the expansion of the resort and the types of new attractions added to the parks during his tenure. Readers get a peek at what happens behind the facades and under the feet of the guests, get an idea of how sometimes Disney's view of American history may be a distorted one, and the challenges of dealing with animals and nature while trying to run one of the busiest tourist destinations in the world. </div><div></div><br /><div>Eve Zibart does a really good job in this book of making topics that are normally the realm or academics and philosophers accessible to the layperson. Although by necessity Eve has to boil down some pretty complicated concepts into simpler ideas, she does so without making the reader feel like he or she's not getting the whole story. While Eve's obviously a fan of Disney in general and Walt Disney Worldin particular, she doesn't pull any punches when it comes to discussing what Disney does well and where Disney comes up short. This book's a fascinating look at some issues and ideas that the average visitor to the World might not generally consider, yet have a tremendous impact on what they experience.</div><div></div><br /><div>That isn't to say that <em>The Unofficial Disney Companion</em> doesn't have its share of problems. Considering the amount of research that had to have gone into writing this book, Eve still manages to present some information that anyone who's done a little in-depth research on Walt Disney World knows is absolutely false (Cinderella Castle's tallest spire doesn't screw off in case of hurricanes, and the meteor projection in Space Mountain isn't a chocolate-chip cookie, just to cite two examples). Another really unfortunate oversight in this book is the lack of a bibliography, which means that readers can't go look for other books and articles that provide more information on topics that Eve covers in her book. Finally, a good portion of the information in Eve's book is now out of date; there have been a lot of changes at Disney since this book was first published more than 10 years ago (such as the addition of Disney's Animal Kingdom and the closing of the Disney Institute and Pleasure Island), and a new edition of the book hasn't been printed for several years. </div><div></div><br /><div>It goes without saying that if you're one of those people that absolutely don't "want the magic spoiled" foe you about the Disney theme parks<em>, The Unofficial Disney Companion </em>isn't the book for you; if you're already a devoted fan of the Disney theme parks and are searching for more information about what goes on behind the scenes at WDW and why, you're probably not going to find anything in this boook that you haven't read somewhere else. But if you're one of those people that want to take their knowledge of Disney beyond what you've been told on an official Disney tour, this book might be a good start for your journey of discovery. </div><div></div><br /><div><em>The Unofficial Disney Companion </em>provides a fascinating look at what went into creating Walt Disney World as we know it today, including its history, the historical and cultural influences of its creator and his antecedents, and the challenges the Company and its cast members face in creating Disney theme park magic. The book's credibility is slightly hurt by including some old stories that have been proven to be false, but for the most part it's a good introduction to some aspects of the resort that many guests may have never considered<em>. </em></div><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em>The Unofficial Disney Companion </em>has been out of print for several years, but it often turns up in used bookstores and on eBay. There's also a second edition of the book available; renamed <em>Inside Disney, </em>the second edition was published by Wiley in 2002. Aside from a few updates<em>,</em> both editions of the book are nearly identical<em>.</em> </div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-85712488068885038032009-04-03T07:14:00.000-07:002009-04-04T22:06:00.053-07:00Disneyland Gets A Zagat Rating (Or Several)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SdYZ4hbXgQI/AAAAAAAAAGk/3OMt5iOdYMA/s1600-h/Zagat+Disneyland.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 93px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320468468621345026" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SdYZ4hbXgQI/AAAAAAAAAGk/3OMt5iOdYMA/s200/Zagat+Disneyland.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> Disneyland Insider's Guide (John <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Deiner</span>, Staff Editor). New York: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> Survey <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">LLC</span>, 2009; 108 pp.</em><br /><br /><br />If there's one thing you never have to worry about when you write a blog about books related to the Disney theme parks, it's a lack of material - especially not a lack of guidebooks to the parks. Disneyland and Walt Disney World are such popular travel destinations that it seems like every publisher wants to print a guidebook to them, and more publishers add to the selection regularly. This time, we'll be looking at a new guidebook to Disneyland from a well-established publisher of restaurant reviews and see how useful their reviews of an entire theme park might be to the average visitor.<br /><br />If you're into fine dining and have had the need to explore your meal options in an unfamiliar city, you're familiar with the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> Guides. For the past 30 years, they've been providing ratings for restaurants based on extensive reader reviews; many restaurants take great pride in displaying stickers that they they've received a Zagat rating. A couple of years ago, Zagat decided to branch out and apply their review system to the Walt Disney World Resort, and in the new <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> Disneyland Insider's Guide</em>, they do the same to the Happiest Place on Earth.<br /><br />The <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> Disneyland Insider's Guide </em>looks at the entire Disneyland Resort - both theme parks, Downtown Disney, and the Disneyland Resort Hotels, providing reviews and ratings of attractions, entertainment, shopping, and of course food - not just sit-down restaurants, mind you, but also fast food options and even fruit carts. Locations are rated on a 30-point scale, with every item having at least three separate ratings. For example, attractions and shows are rated by appeal to adults, appeal to children, and thrill level; restaurants are rated by food, decor, and service, with a separate box provided displaying average cost. In addition to the ratings, comments from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> reader surveys are provided for each <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">location</span>. The book also provides lists of top-rated locations for each district of the Resort, brief overviews of each area, and a separate color section with Disney-provided park maps and photographs of top-rated attractions, shopping, dining, and hotels.<br /><br />The best thing about the <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> Disneyland Insider's Guide </em>is that the book makes finding information quick and easy; the book's well-organized and the information in it is concise. The book is also small enough that it's easy to carry along - its overall dimensions are probably the same as a small stack of park maps, so it'd be easy to carry along in a pocket or purse. I also like that it's easy to get an idea how much eating at a restaurant's going to set you back with aquick glance, and the lists at the back of the book breaking down attractions, shopping and dining into various categories are a nice touch.<br /><br />So the <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> Disneyland Insider's Guide </em>is the perfect thing to take along with you on your next trip to the Park, right? Well, not quite. The biggest problem I have with the book is the format used in writing the reviews; rather than just having their staff writers come up with their own brief summary of the opinions provided by those surveyed, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> folks decided to put together those review paragraphs by splicing together words from multiple individual comments. For example, here's part of the <em>Disneyland Insider's Guide </em>review of Dumbo the Flying Elephant:<br /><br /><em>" 'Every kid' 'has to ride' this 'quintessential' <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fantasyland</span> fixture 'at least once', as there's 'nothing like getting an elephant's-eye view' while 'soaring <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">through</span> the air' in 'colorful' circling <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pachyderms</span>..."</em><br /><br />Writing the reviews in this style probably sounded like a cute idea, but it gets annoying really quickly - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">especially</span> if you decide to read the book all the way through (which granted isn't how this book's intended to be read). If you're looking for tips on when to visit and how to save time, there's a little bit of information in the <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> Insider's Guide, </em>but we're talking about one or two very short paragraphs. If you'd like some suggestions for touring the parks, the information you're provided is similarly limited; this isn't the book you want to buy if you're looking for a lot of in-depth information for planning your next visit to Anaheim. It's also not the book you're looking for if you'd like some information about hotels or shopping outside of the Disneyland Resort itself - the book deals only with what's on Disney property. Last but not least, a price tag of $14.95 for a book that's only about 125 pages in total length (108 pages of text plus the color section) may give some folks looking for the best value for their money some pause.<br /><br />The <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zagat</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Disneyland</span> Insider's Guide </em>is a well-organized and concise book that provides brief but useful reviews and ratings of attractions, shopping, and dining at the Disneyland Resort, and would probably serve as a useful quick reference to guests who are new visitors to the Happiest Place on Earth. However, its usefulness is hampered by an awkward writing style for the reviews, and some readers will find that the information provided by the book is a little too concise, keeping the book from being a useful planning tool. The book is readily available at most major book retailers and at the Disneyland Resort.Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-37949644209510315762009-02-20T16:39:00.000-08:002009-02-20T22:54:19.757-08:00Tangent Review: The Scoop on the Anti-Disneyland<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SZ9NjG02q0I/AAAAAAAAAGU/QeqGZh7faec/s1600-h/Carnival+Undercover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305044151588793154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 132px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SZ9NjG02q0I/AAAAAAAAAGU/QeqGZh7faec/s200/Carnival+Undercover.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><em>Carnival Undercover, By Brett Witter. New York: Plume (Penguin Putnam Group), 2003, 207 pp.</em><br /><br /><p><em></em></p><br /><p>Before there was a Disneyland, there were carnivals and fair midways. Actually, you can argue that carnivals served as one of the inspirations for Disneyland - although not in a good way; Walt Disney has been quoted as saying that he intended his creation to be like nothing else in the world, especially not like the carnivals and fairs people were familiar with. But if what carnivals were and what they weren't helped define the Happiest Place on Earth, the success of Disneyland and other amusement and theme parks helped define carnivals, as well. For this review, I'm going to take a look at a book that explains the differences between carnivals and amusement parks and gives readers a peek behind the scenes of what's happening on the midway.</p><br /><p><em>Carnival Undercover </em>is part-expose and part love poem to the carnival and to the fairground midway. Brett Witter lets us in on how and why things happen the way the do at carnivals, how they differ from amusement parks and theme parks, how some of the amazing and annoying things you encounter at carnivals are done, how you can create a little of the carnival in your own home, and gain a (slight) advantage at the game booths. We learn things like what makes a carnival location and what makes for the best location in a carnival, what tell-tale signs of a poorly maintained carnival ride to look for, what midway games offer the best chance of winning and the least chance of winning, how freak show performers pull off their death-defying stunts, and what the life of a carny is like.</p><p>Interesting, I hear you say, but what does any of this have to do with Disney theme parks? Brett refers to the Disney theme parks several times throughout the book - mainly to point out how the theme park experience differs from the carnival experience, and not necessarily for the better. This includes comparisons of the multiple-entry, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">grid like</span> nature of the carnival layout versus the "hub and spoke" layout of the Disney Magic Kingdoms, a review of how ride safety requirements differ between carnivals and theme parks, and even a critique of Disneyland's late, unlamented Rocket Rods. </p><p><em>Carnival Undercover</em> is a really fun read. While Brett certainly doesn't view carnivals and carnies through rose-colored glasses, he has a strong sense of admiration and respect for the folks who make their living be working on the midway, and it shows in his book. Along the way, Brett makes a real effort to increase the reader's appreciation of carnivals and the carnival lifestyle as well, and provides some interesting tips and tricks that could be helpful to folks who like going to carnivals and fairs, including how to better your chances of winning and avoid gaffs (rigged games) on the midway. The book is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fascinating</span> look at a topic that has seldom been given serious study. </p><p>So what problems do I have with Brett's book? At times, the book seems unfocused - veering away from its primary topic into discussions of amusement park attractions and attendance, among other things. My only other complaint about the book is that a lot of its facts are out of date, making you wonder about the accuracy of the rest of the book, but then this book has never been updated since its brief initial run, so to some extent you have to expect that sort of thing.</p><p><em>Carnival Undercover </em>is an enjoyable and fascinating look at carnivals and fairs, providing information about how and why things happen the way the do on the midway, as well as tips and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">tricks</span> to help the reader enjoy and appreciate their time at a fair or carnival a bit more. It's not intended as a serious or scholarly piece, and some readers may not appreciate the tongue-in-cheek attitude of the book, but it's a great way to learn about carnivals, amusement parks, and theme parks. If your interest in the amusement industry extends beyond the Disney theme parks, you may want to consider picking up a copy of this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">book</span>. </p><p>Unfortunately, the book went out of print soon after its initial print run, but it's not difficult to find used copies through brick-and-mortar bookstores specializing in used or bargain books, or online booksellers like Amazon.<br /></p>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-17158481590745408582009-02-04T23:05:00.000-08:002009-02-05T00:21:18.696-08:00A Nice Effort, But It Doesn't Deliver<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SYqelEypVmI/AAAAAAAAAGM/-zYUwmawsh4/s1600-h/Secrets+of+the+Mouse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299222271333324386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SYqelEypVmI/AAAAAAAAAGM/-zYUwmawsh4/s200/Secrets+of+the+Mouse.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>Secrets of the Mouse: An Unofficial Behind-The-Scenes Guide to Disneyland Park, By Alan Joyce. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Createspace</span>.com, 2008; 192 pp. </em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div>Going into a bookstore and saying you'd like a guidebook to a Disney theme park is kinda like walking into a Starbucks and saying that you'd like some coffee. No matter what bookshop you visit, you're going to be confronted with a lot of choices - there are are a lot of books to choose from, each with their own take on the parks, and every day new titles appear hoping to provide readers with a new and fresh perspective on the Disney park experience. And it's not just the big publishing houses vying for the Disney fan's or the park visitor's attention - thanks to the emergence of several self-publishing websites, a lot of first-time authors are bringing out out books on the parks in the hope of becoming the next Arthur <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Frommer</span> or Steve <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Birnbaum</span>. In today's post, I'm going to review a recently released self-published work on that promises to give readers a glimpse behind the curtain at many of Disneyland's most popular attractions.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>Secrets of the Mouse </em>provides concise information on the lands and attractions of the Happiest Place on Earth, including attraction history, information on attraction e<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">lements</span> such as ride vehicles and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">theming</span>, and details often overlooked by infrequent or casual guests. Besides information on attractions, the book also gives readers hints on where to find some hidden Mickeys in the attractions and attraction queues, and it provides some games to pass some time while waiting to board an attraction. The book is intended to be a guide for enhancing a guest's Disneyland experience; it's not so much intended to provide readers with information on what to visit and when as much as it's supposed to provide a ready reference to help a visitor get more out of their visit. For a self-published unofficial guide to the Park, <em>Secrets of the Mouse </em>is pretty well illustrated (although more than a few photos are on the fuzzy side), and it's a quick read; each entry on a particular attraction is about one to two pages long, so a reader can quickly go to the entry for an attraction and read up on it a quickly as he or she queues up to ride. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>If you're an author and you're going to name your book <em>Secrets of the Mouse</em>, you'd better be ready to deliver some fascinating and surprising information, and... well, for the most part, this book doesn't. Don't get me wrong - it's not a bad book, and I did learn a couple of things I didn't know about Disneyland by reading it, but the book really doesn't deliver on the promise of its title if you're a die-hard Disneyland fan. You're getting some of the Mouse's secrets, all right, but they're probably ones you're already familiar with if you've done some reading about Disneyland or if you've been on one of Disney's official tours. The book also suffers from being a jack of all trades but a master of none; it's got some good information on attractions, some fun hidden Mickey hunts, and some fun games to play, but not enough of any of them to make this book really stand out form amongst the books available. <em>Secrets of the Mouse </em>would make a good gift for someone who's just starting to discover the little things that make a Disney theme park so special, but if you're past that initial stage of discovery, there are better choices out there.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>Secrets of the Mouse</em> provides a nice introduction to some of the history and hidden details found in Disneyland's attractions and to hidden Mickey spotting, as well as providing some fun games to pass the time while waiting in an attraction queue, and would make a nice supplement to a guidebook for someone unfamiliar with the California theme park. However, the book covers topics that have been covered before and covered in better detail in books that have been previously published, and someone who's already at least somewhat familiar with the little touches that make Disneyland a special place would be better served looking elsewhere (I'd suggest <em>The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Imagineering</span> Field Guide to Disneyland </em>and<em> Disneyland Detective </em>if you're looking for information on attraction details<em>, </em>and <em>Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys </em>if you're interested in hidden Mickey hunting). The book tries to be many things for many people, but in the end is only moderately successful at covering any of the topics included. </div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-7023389231434285402009-01-20T23:17:00.000-08:002009-01-20T23:22:03.233-08:00How Do You Say "I've Got An Excuse" in Japanese?Due to a series of very fortunate circumstances, I'm off to Tokyo (and of course, to the Tokyo Disney Resort). I was hoping to have at least one more review to tide everyone over until I get back, but I had so much going on this last week that it didn't happen - sorry, folks! I should have another review up by the first week of February - until then, sayonara and take care.Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-46697051660794809392009-01-13T19:22:00.000-08:002009-01-13T21:22:32.916-08:00Getting An Education From The Mouse<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SW1cz0Qe3EI/AAAAAAAAAGA/b45m55KM2kw/s1600-h/Mousecatraz.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290987182501059650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SW1cz0Qe3EI/AAAAAAAAAGA/b45m55KM2kw/s200/Mousecatraz.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>Mousecatraz: The Walt Disney World College Program, by Wesley Jones. E.J. Communications/lulu.com, 2006, 153 pp.</em><br /><br /><div></div>The next time you visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World, take a minute to look at the nametag of the cast member who's assisting you. Chances are that underneath his or her name on the tag, you'll see a college name listed instead of that cast member's home town; that means that he or she is part of the Disney College Program, an internship program where Disney brings in college students from all over the country to "live, learn, and earn" for a semester as they work for the Mouse. Few people are aware of the program and fewer still have had the chance to be a part of it, so even some devoted Disney fans may not be aware of what it's like to be a college student working at the Disney theme parks. The book we're eviewing this time gives us a peek behind the curtain at the Disney College Program and its participants.<br /><br /><em>Mousecatraz </em>is the nickname given to the Disney College Program by some of the interns based on the conditions they've experienced while working in it, and it's also the name of a book that shares information and anecdotes about the Disney College Program experience. The book takes us through the various phases of the College Program, from the recruiting seminars held on college campuses to the final goodbyes, and many of the things - good, bad, or odd - that can happen in between. Former College Program cast members share their experiences and stories of the things they witnessed while they were part of the program; they talk about their jobs at the Disney parks (and some of the things they did and were done to them while working at them), their experiences living with a large group of people their own ages from all over and the joy and the terror that can result, the educational experiences they received, and the things they did to break free from the monotony and frustration that sometimes goes with working in a theme park. While the young adults that participate in the College Program may look like stereotypical clean-cut All-American kids, they're subject to the same quirks, desires, urges, and foibles of any college student anywhere, and the things that have happened to them while they worked for Disney makes for some interesting stories - not all of them for small ears.<br /><br /><p>Wesley Jones, a former Disney College Program intern, mainly lets his fellow participants in the program tell readers what being a College Program cast member is like; Wesley provides some general information about various facets of the program, general information about the Walt Disney World Resort, and sets up some of the anecdotes, helping to tie the whole narrative together. I think things work out better for the book in this format, since if Wesley had just told the stories he'd heard, some folks might not be inclined to believe what they had read! Although it's pretty obvious that Wesley enjoyed and appreciated his time in the College Program (particularly when you read Wesley's own story in the final chapter), he doesn't appear to pull any punches; the book is more than happy to point out the mistakes and dumb actions of cast members, guests, and Disney managers alike. Wesley isn't salacious when he shares some of the more adult stories about being in the College Program; overall, he maintains his role as a more-or-less neutral observer throughout the book and lets the readers come to their own conclusions about the College Program.</p><p>I didn't have any major problems with <em>Mousecatraz, </em>but I can imagine there's going to be some readers that will. As I've mentioned above, some of the content of the book is definitely not suitable for kids (it's not that any of the stories are particularly graphic, it's just that some parents may not want their children reading about some of this stuff). If you're one of those folks that don't want the magic spoiled for them by finding out what happens behind the scenes, this isn't the book for you - Wesley doesn't give away too many secrets that most Disney fans don't already know, but any illusions readers harbor about the perfection of cast members and the well-olied machine that keeps the theme parks running may definitely be called into question after reading this book. If you're looking for some really graphic or bawdy stories, you're probably not going to be to happy with <em>Mousecatraz, </em>in spite of what the book jacket might have you believe; you're also probably not going to be thrilled with this book if you feel that Disney can do no wrong, because the Company does come in for some criticism in a few places in the book. If you can handle a few adult situations and a sometimes less-than-magical view of the Disney parks, this book's worth a read.</p><p><em>Mousecatraz </em>is an interesting and (so far, at least) unique look into the Disney College Program and the true-life adventures experienced by its participants. The book's not really appropriate for pre-teenage children because of some adult themes, but if you have a college-age or nearly college age child who's contemplating signing up for Disney's internship program (or who might do so sometime soon), this book will give them and their parents a little better idea of what to expect than they'll get from a presentation or a glossy brochure. Although the book's a couple of years old, it's still readily available through Amazon.com and lulu.com.</p><p></p></div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-4850589465729123832008-12-31T21:26:00.000-08:002008-12-31T22:53:19.716-08:00It's Only Bragging If You Don't Live Up To The Title<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SVxUfSxxjWI/AAAAAAAAAF4/FLibP6gxgbY/s1600-h/Complete+Guide+2008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286192959219404130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SVxUfSxxjWI/AAAAAAAAAF4/FLibP6gxgbY/s200/Complete+Guide+2008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em><br />The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2008, by Julie and Mike Neal. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sanibel</span>, FL: Coconut Press, 2007, 336 pp. </em></div><div><em></em></div><div><br />For me, the biggest problem I have with buying a guidebook to a Disney theme park is trying to find space for it on my bookshelf! For the more casual visitor, finding a guidebook for an upcoming visit is a bit more tricky - there are a lot of really good choices out there, a<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nd</span> sometimes the choice comes down to what you'd like to get out of the book besides the basic facts. Should you choose a book that's well-illustrated so you can start enjoying your Disneyland or Walt Disney World vacation before you even get there? Do you want a book that's full of information or trivia? Do you want a book that provides unbiased opinions of what you'll encounter? This time, I'll be reviewing a guidebook that has a nice combination of all three.<br /></div><div></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em><br />The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World </em>is pretty much what the title says; the book provides a full overview of the Walt Disney World Resort, including the theme parks, water parks, on-property <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">accommodations</span>, dining and shopping. But it doesn't stop there. Julie and Mike Neal cover the various attractions and accommodations in great detail, including background on what inspired the attraction or the design of the resort, interesting bits of trivia and hidden details to look out for. They also cover background information on the Walt Disney Company and the resort in general, including a biography of Walt Disney, the history of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">WDW</span>, an introduction to the Disney characters, and information on the various animal species you'll encounter at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The book is superbly illustrated with official images from Disney and many wonderful photographs taken by the authors. Given all of the information and all the illustrations included, the book is surprisingly concise. Calling the <em>Complete Guide to Walt Disney World </em>a guidebook to the Walt Disney World Resort doesn't really seem to do it justice; it's more of a mini-reference guide.<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />It takes either a great deal of nerve or a great deal of confidence to call a travel book a complete guide to anything, but I think Julie and Mike's book more than lives up to its title; the book is everything the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Birnbaum</span> Guide to Walt Disney World </em>promises to be to its readers and then some. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Neals</span> put a lot of work into researching this book, making over 800 trips to the resort over five years, and it shows; I dare any fan of Walt Disney World to read this book and not come away knowing a few things about the resort that they didn't know. The illustrations - maps and photographs - are outstanding. The book's full of both useful and fun information, and at 336 pages, manages to provide a lot of information while making the book easy enough to carry around in a bag or purse. It is, in short, a really impressive book.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br />This isn't to say that <em>The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World</em> is perfect. I managed to find several errors in the book, such as names of locations or persons - nothing important or egregious enough that I wouldn't recommend buying this book, but there were some really surprising errors considering the amount of detail in it. Like many Walt Disney World guidebooks, its coverage pretty much ends where the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">WDW</span> boundaries do; if you plan to explore beyond Disney property, you may want to consider a second guidebook for that part of the trip (I'd recommend <em>Pauline <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Frommer's</span> Guide to Walt Disney World and Orlando</em>). The book does provide a timetable for each theme park that will allow you to experience the highlights of the park, but there's not much else in the book in terms of touring plans or touring information for the theme parks and other activities. Overall, though, the positives of this book far outweigh the negatives. </div><div></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em><br />The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 </em>is a thorough, fact-filled and fascinating guide to the Walt Disney World Resort. It provides a lot of information but not so much as to be overwhelming, it's beautifully illustrated and organized, and it gives the reader a good background into what inspired the creation of the parks and the attractions found there. The book is a good source of information on Disney's Florida attraction and a good introduction to what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">WDW</span> is and what it's all about. Julie and Mike Neal have written a book that gives Disney's official guidebook a run for it's money. </div><div></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em><br />Note: Since the time I received a copy of this book, a revised <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">edition</span> for 2009 has been released by Coconut Press; </em>The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2009<em> is now available in bookstores and online. </em></div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-50067543635101656242008-12-24T19:44:00.000-08:002008-12-24T21:30:24.930-08:00There's One Less Excuse For Not Visiting Tokyo Disney<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SVMWntn0fzI/AAAAAAAAAFw/84SJ0Y8thMs/s1600-h/Tokyo+Disney+Made+Easy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283591659353046834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SVMWntn0fzI/AAAAAAAAAFw/84SJ0Y8thMs/s200/Tokyo+Disney+Made+Easy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>Tokyo Disney Made Easy, by Kevin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yee</span>. Orlando, FL: Ultimate Orlando Press, 2008; 180 pp.</em></div><div></div><br /><div>If you've been a Disney theme park fan for a while, you've heard all kinds of stories about the Tokyo Disney Resort - about how beautiful and well-maintained it is, about the unique, top-tier attractions and shows there that can't be found at the other Disney theme parks, and about how visiting the parks is such a different experience from visiting Disneyland or Walt Disney World. It all sounds wonderful, but there's just one potential problem with going for a visit to the Tokyo Disney Resort: It's in Japan. A few thoughts of spending a whole lot of money, taking a long plane ride, trying to navigate one's way around one of the largest cities in the world, and not being able to understand the culture or communicate with anyone are usually enough to discourage all but the most devoted Disney fans from making the trip to see Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">DisneySea</span>. A trip to the local bookstore doesn't provide much assurance; there are a lot of guides out there to Japan and to Tokyo, but there's not much information in most travel guides to Japan about the Tokyo Disney Resort, and there are no English-language guides to help someone plan a trip to the Tokyo parks. Until now, that is.</div><div></div><br /><div>Kevin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Yee</span>, author of several books on Disney-related topics (including <em>Mouse Trap</em>, which I've previously reviewed in this blog), has put together the first English guide to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DisneySea</span>, <em>Tokyo Disney Made Easy.</em> In his book, Kevin provides a lot of useful information to the American traveler who'd like to make a trip to see the Tokyo parks, including how to plan for the trip, how to get to and from the airport to your hotel and to the Tokyo Disney Resort, what to see and what you can afford to miss, and a few cultural and linguistic pointers to make your visit less stressful. Kevin even provides tips on how to save a little money during your visit and how to navigate the parks with children in tow. </div><div></div><br /><div>I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about how useful Kevin's book would be in planning a trip to Japan. Not to cast any aspersions on Kevin or anything - I think he's a very good writer - but I'd heard that he'd only visited the Tokyo Disney Resort once, and I wasn't sure how much information he'd be able to provide to the novice traveler based on one visit. I really needn't have worried. As Kevin himself mentions, the key to a successful trip is planning and research, and Kevin's definitely done his in writing this book. The information in Kevin's book is concise and well-organized, and I think even a veteran traveler to Tokyo Disney could pick up a helpful hint or two. The book provides a brief overview of the attractions and shows that can be found in the Tokyo parks, including recommendations on what rides and shows should be on a visitor's "must see" list and what rides and shows can be sacrificed if time is short and the crowds are particularly daunting (which they can often be at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">DisneySea</span>). I particularly liked how Kevin walks the reader through the steps of dining and shopping transactions, which could be a little tricky if you're not aware how such transactions are done in Japan. Kevin also provides a mini crash course in Japanese in this book, with a few useful phrases, some basic rules of grammar, and a couple of other items that a visitor may find helpful.</div><div></div><br /><div>So, are there any potential pitfalls or drawbacks to <em>Tokyo Disney Made Easy? </em>Well, the first thing to keep in mind is that this book is intended to be a guide to visiting the Tokyo Disney Resort, not a guide to Japan or even to Tokyo; while Kevin does provide a few pointers on how to get around Tokyo and Japan using Japan Railways, this book doesn't provide a lot of information about getting by in Japan once you leave the Disney parks. Frankly, that's not necessarily a bad thing; as I mentioned above, there are a lot of good travel guides to Japan, and there was really no need for Kevin to re-invent the wheel. Consider Kevin's book an excellent supplement to a good travel guide to Tokyo if you're planning on seeing more than the Tokyo Disney Resort while you're in Japan (and if you're going to travel all that distance, you really should see more!)</div><div></div><br /><div>If you're one of those folks that just can't visit a Disney theme park without a touring plan, I'm sorry to tell you that there aren't any touring plans provided in Kevin's book; Kevin does provide some tips for navigating the parks and a few tips for creating a touring plan for your visit, however, and I think that the information Kevin does provide and a little research on the Internet should give readers a good start on devising a plan of their own. Aside from these quibbles, I think this is a very good guidebook.</div><div></div><br /><div><em>Tokyo Disney Made Easy </em>more than lives up to its name, providing a concise and informative guide to planning and enjoying a trip to the Japanese Disney theme parks. The book provides a good general overview of the parks and their shows and attractions, and it provides helpful tips for overcoming common linguistic and cultural pitfalls that a first-time visitor to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">DisneySea</span> may encounter during their visit. Any Disney fan that is planning their first trip to the Japanese parks should really consider picking up a copy of this book. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-37225553247326393742008-12-24T14:37:00.000-08:002008-12-24T14:44:49.748-08:00Christmastime (And Excuse Time) Is HereHi, folks. My deepest apologies to those of you who have been checking here (and contacting me) wondering why I hadn't posted a review recently.<br /><br />To borrow a line from Twain, the rumors of my (and this blog's) demise are greatly exaggerated; between all the usual holiday insanity, somne changes at work, and a nasty cold virus that just refuses to go away, I haven't been getting a whole lot accomplished this month. I've almost got a book I've been reading finished (yes, I actually read the books I review!) and I've got a couple of days free from work coming up , so check back before the end of the weekend. If I don't have anything posted, well, Santa knows where to deliver the lumps of coal.<br /><br />Merry Christmas, Happy Hanaukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and happy whatever holidays I may have forgotten, everybody!Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-74375498764796742062008-11-19T10:58:00.000-08:002008-11-20T09:53:08.620-08:00How Magic Came To The Sea<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SSWCpKifpNI/AAAAAAAAAFo/CpNQ7Z6rF0A/s1600-h/Disney+Magic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270762582622315730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SSWCpKifpNI/AAAAAAAAAFo/CpNQ7Z6rF0A/s200/Disney+Magic.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>Disney Magic: The Launching of a Dream, By John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Heminway</span>. New York: Disney Editions, 1998, 92 pp.</em></div><div><em></em></div><br /><div>Hello everyone - I'm back! I had a great vacation on the <em>Disney Magic</em>, although I didn't get anywhere near as much reading done as I expected to. I did, however, find a couple of new books to review while I was on vacation, and for my first review since my return, I'd like to discuss one of them.</div><div></div><br /><div>In the late 1990's, Disney decided to make what was considered by some to be an unusual move. Up to that point, Disney had an agreement with another cruise line operating out of Florida to license the use of the Disney characters on their cruises, but Disney looked over its options and decided that it would be better served by creating and running its own cruise line. Disney decided to build two new ships for the cruise line, with a design and features that would not only mark the ships as uniquely Disney but would also evoke memories of classic ocean liners. The story of the creation of the cruise line and the design and building of the first ship - the <em>Disney Magic </em>- is a fascinating one, and John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Heminway</span> shares it with us in <em>Disney Magic: The Launching of a Dream, </em>a book published to celebrate the inaugural voyages of the ship.</div><div></div><br /><div><em>Disney Magic </em>covers the story of how Disney decided to get into the cruise business, some of the early design concepts for their ships, and the reasoning behind the design that was finally settled on. We learn a little about the process by which the ship was built - which had been used in the past for making ships bigger but had never been used before for building a new ship; we also learn about what inspired the ship's designers when they came up with the look of the staterooms and public spaces and how those inspirations are reflected in the final designs. The book is full of concept art and models, the collages that inspired the artists and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Imagineers</span> when designing key public spaces, images of artwork created for use on the ship, and photographs of room <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mockups</span> and of the <em>Disney Magic </em>under construction. </div><div></div><br /><div>This book was absolutely fascinating. I'd had some idea of the basic concepts behind the design of the <em>Disney Magic</em>, but I never realized how many different design concepts had been considered for the project and how much work was involved - both in terms of design and actual building - to make the ship a reality. John does a good job of giving a general overview of the ship's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">pre</span>-history, and his book features quotes from key executives involved in the project - including then-CEO Michael Eisner - as well as some beautiful artwork.</div><div></div><br /><div>My biggest problem with <em>Disney Magic</em> is that the story that it tells is incomplete. In order for the book to be ready for publication in time for the inaugural voyages of the cruise line, the story of the actual construction ends with the floating out of the ship from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">drydock</span> (they don't launch ships into the water in modern shipbuilding). This is good in that the reader gets a look at many models and concept artwork that might have otherwise just been put away in the Walt Disney <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Imagineering</span> archives, but it's bad in that we don't get to see much of the finished ship. I'm a little surprised that Disney's never printed a revised edition of this book or a new book covering the creation of the <em>Magic</em>'s sister ship the <em>Disney Wonder </em>and the changes that have been made to the ships since the ships came into service. With two new ships joining the Disney Cruise Line in the next couple of years, I hope that Disney will consider publishing a new book.</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>The only other potential problem I see folks having with this book is that since Michael Eisner was still in charge of the Walt Disney Company when it was published, there are a lot of quotes from Michael included, and Michael being Michael, he takes a lot of credit for the way the ship turned out. I'm sure that will bother the Disney fans out there who are more than happy to see Michael gone from Disney, so don't say I didn't warn you - but don't let it stop you from getting a copy of the book, either.</div><div></div><br /><div><em>Disney Magic: The Launching Of A Dream </em>is an interesting look at the early history of the Disney Cruise Line and of the creation of its first ship, the <em>Disney Magic</em>. While it's a very short book and the story told by the book ends before it's really complete, the book more than makes up for these shortcomings with lots of illustrations of concept art and models. The book would make a great addition to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">anyone's</span> Disney theme park library or would make a great souvenir or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">momento</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">someone's</span> Disney cruise experience. The book can be purchased by passengers sailing on the <em>Disney Magic</em> in the ship's gift shops, Treasure Ketch and Mickey's Mates, or on eBay. </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>A word of warning about purchasing the book on eBay, though - a few less-than-honest sellers have tried to pass copies of the book off as a limited edition that was available only after immediately the ship went into service, which may be true for the book's first edition, but not for the current one. Be sure you ask about which edition the book you're bidding on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">and</span> when it was initially purchased before you plunk down significantly more than the $14.95 cover price for the book. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-48712006854111420822008-10-31T14:34:00.000-07:002008-10-31T14:37:50.534-07:00Come Sail Away...Folks, I'm headed off to Florida for a well-deserved vacation on the Disney Cruise Line and at Walt Disney World. I've got a few books with me I hope to read while I'm gone, and I'm always on the lookout for new books on the parks when I visit, so hopefully this trip will result in some more content on the blog once I get back. See you soon!Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-66495629666897557962008-10-31T13:20:00.000-07:002008-10-31T14:39:33.257-07:00Le Premiere Guide de Souvenir D'Euro Disney<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SQt4Q_FIPQI/AAAAAAAAAFg/tYWcaB9SXGo/s1600-h/Euro+Disney+Guidebook.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263432822718741762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 146px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SQt4Q_FIPQI/AAAAAAAAAFg/tYWcaB9SXGo/s200/Euro+Disney+Guidebook.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>Euro Disneyland; by Dora <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Loewenstein</span> (editor), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">et</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">al</span>. Dusseldorf, Germany; The Walt Disney Company/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mohndruck</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Graphische</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Betriebe</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">GmBH</span>, 1992; 96 pp. </em></div><div><em></em></div><br /><div>{That's "The first souvenir guide to Euro Disney" for those of you that don't know French - at least that's what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Babelfish</span> tells me. :) } </div><div></div><br /><div>It's been a while since I've done a review of one of the souvenir guidebooks from the Disney theme parks, so I decided to pull down a guidebook from my bookshelf that a many of you may not have seen before. <em>Euro Disney </em>was the first souvenir "coffee table" book from Disney's first European theme park, first sold just after the opening of Euro Disneyland in April 1992. The book sold for 105 francs in 1992, which, according to some handy websites on the Internet, would have been $18.75 for any American visiting the park at that time, or about $27.39 today; in other words, this wasn't a cheap book, but the quality of the book shows when you look at it. They spared no expense on the park; looks like they spared no expense on the souvenirs, either. </div><div></div><br /><div>I love the first edition theme park guidebooks, because I love seeing Disney's solution to a dilemma they've run into every time they've opened a new park - namely, how do you get across the experience of this new and different place when there's not much you can show of it just yet? Like we saw in the review for the first souvenir guidebook for Disneyland look for the March 6th post on the blog if you haven't read it), they primarily relied on concept art from Walt Disney <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Imagineering</span>, which for me makes this book all that much more fun; until Alain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Littaye</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Didier</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Ghez</span> published<em> Disneyland Paris: From Sketch to Reality</em> a few years ago, this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">guidebook</span> was about the best source of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Imagineering</span> concept art on the park. (And by the way, if you're a fan of the Disney parks and of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Imagineering</span> concept art, get a copy of Alain and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Didier's</span> book. <em>Now</em>. Well, OK, finish reading this first.) </div><div></div><br /><div>Fortunately for Disney, Euro Disneyland (it feels so strange not calling it Disneyland Paris!) was far enough along on construction at the time this book was published that they were able to take some photos of the outsides of buildings in the park; you can tell that in some photos, they really had to struggle to find a camera angle that didn't reveal the building was unfinished. There are also photographs of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">mock-ups</span> of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">resort's</span> hotel rooms and a few photos of what I assume are concepts for cast member costumes; let me say that after looking at the pictures, I feel sorry for any actual cast members who had to wear these outfits! In some cases, the photographers didn't quite succeed and scaffolding is still visible in the shots. In a few others, they dropped all pretenses that the park was finished and showed the park under construction. I think it's pretty cool to see these very early photos of the park. </div><div></div><br /><div>Disney also needed some shots of families enjoying their day at Euro Disneyland for the book; since the park wasn't quite that ready for the photographers, they went to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and took a bunch of pictures of families wearing and carrying what must have been prototypes of opening day souvenir merchandise, like T-shirts and balloons. In some cases, they also used generic and stock shots from the MK and hoped nobody would really notice, and to be fair, a non-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Disneyphile</span> probably wouldn't. But since I'm assuming most of you reading this are serious Disney fans, you'll probably figure out which pictures are from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">WDW</span> - and you'll probably have a fun time doing it. </div><div></div><br /><div><em>Euro Disney </em>is a really fun book from a visual standpoint. As far as the text... well, not so much. I think the book is unusual in that it spends the first 24 pages telling the reader not only the story of the Euro Disney Resort, but also the story of Walt Disney, the Walt Disney Company, and of the other Disney theme parks that were around when Euro Disneyland opened. The descriptions of the attractions and the dining and shopping opportunities at Euro Disneyland are a little too enthusiastic for my tastes and sound more like the writers were trying too hard to convince someone that everything in the park was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">absolutely</span> wonderful. </div><div></div><br /><div><em>Euro Disney </em>is a fascinating look at the beginnings of Disney's first European theme park, filled with concept art and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">pre</span>-opening photographs of the resort. Unfortunately, this book may be a somewhat difficult to find; I only see it come up rarely on eBay and other auction sites. Later guidebooks are a little easier to find, but they tend to be smaller, thinner, and in paperback, which makes the newer books feel kinda cheap in comparison to this one. </div><div></div><br /><div>While you're looking, there are a couple of great books out there on the park that should be easier to find; one is the previously mentioned <em>Disneyland Paris: From Sketch to Reality, </em>and<em> </em>there's a good general history of the building and early years of operation of the resort called <em>Once Upon An American Dream </em>by<em> </em>Andrew <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Lainsbury</span>. </div><div></div><br /><div>Many American Disney fans may not get the chance to visit Disneyland Paris, or at best may get to visit once or twice in their lifetime; this is a shame, because it really was and is an amazing place. If you can't get to Europe anytime soon, picking up this guidebook or one of the other books I've mentioned may be the next best thing. </div><div></div><div></div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-46415323158343798512008-10-20T23:28:00.000-07:002008-11-20T09:32:45.233-08:00Find The Details of DCA? It's Elementary!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SP2YapfSqPI/AAAAAAAAAFY/Qvf_E08vfQQ/s1600-h/DCA+Detective.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259527523419728114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SP2YapfSqPI/AAAAAAAAAFY/Qvf_E08vfQQ/s200/DCA+Detective.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>Disney's California Adventure Detective: An Independent Guide to Exploring the Trivia, Secrets, and Magic of the Park Dedicated to California, by Kendra <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Trahan</span>. Mission <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Viejo</span>, CA: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Permagrin</span> Publishing, Inc., 2008; 213 pp. </em></div><div><em></em></div><br /><div>Before we get started, I need to do a bit of full disclosure. The author of the book I'll be reviewing this time is a friend of mine (and hopefully still will be after this review!) and, as president of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">NFFC</span>, is also my boss. I also played a minor role in reviewing the book's content prior to its publication. Okay, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's begin...</div><div></div><br /><div>I know I've written this before, but it bears repeating: The magic of the Disney theme parks is in the details. Someone can enjoy a visit to Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom, or any of the Disney parks without ever really noticing the details, but to truly appreciate what makes the Disney theme park experience different from going to any other amusement or theme park, a visitor really ought to take the time to find and appreciate all the little things that work together to immerse guests into an environment unlike any other they've ever experienced. </div><div></div><br /><div>The trick is, how do you discover the details? For a long time, your only options were to find yourself a devoted Disney fan to take you around the park or spend a lot of time doing research. (I've probably spent way too much time doing both.) In 2004, Kendra <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Trahan</span> came up with a third alternative; she wrote <em>Disneyland Detective</em>, a fascinating book that collected many of the most fun and interesting details and stories from the Happiest Place on Earth, so casual Disney park fans could discover for themselves a lot of what they'd been missing. So if you're Kendra, what do you do for an encore? You write another book about the Disney theme park next door!</div><div></div><br /><div><em>Disney's California Adventure Detective</em> is the first book published about Disney's second gate in California. The book covers the theme park as well as the Downtown Disney district and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, sharing the some of the stories, secrets, and hidden details that guests can find in these places if they take a moment to look. There a lot of secrets and stories to be found at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DCA</span> and in this book - everything from hidden Mickeys and subtle references to movies and television shows to references to people and places in California history, as well as tributes to milestones in California architecture. The book is divided into seven chapters, each dealing with various sections of the theme park, and also contains three appendices that each go into greater detail about specific attractions where there are numerous references to be found. The book's layout highlights certain categories of information throughout, such as "lessons to learn" (background information on people and places referred to in the park), "treasures and trivia" (props to be found in attractions and fun facts related to an area or an attraction), and opening day attractions. </div><div></div><br /><div>Kendra's done a wonderful job with this book. For a theme park that's been accused of not having a lot of "there" there (apologies to Gertrude Stein), Kendra's discovered a lot of interesting facts and details about Disney's California Adventure and its attractions. The book is a fast read, but I never felt like I was being shortchanged as far as content or detail. If someone can make it through this entire book without learning something new about Disney's California Adventure or about California, that person may want to consider applying for a job teaching California history or a job at the Walt Disney Archives! The book has wonderful photographs of the park and very nice illustrations of people who are significant figures in California history or who played a role in creating the Disney films and shows referred to in park attractions.</div><div></div><br /><div>So, do I have any quibbles with this book? Well, yes (sorry, Kendra), but they're pretty minor ones. First off, while I think anyone from the first-time visitor to Disney's California Adventure to the person who's been to the park many times will get something out of this book, this isn't a book for "theme park commandos"; if your overriding goal when you visit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">DCA</span> or any other theme park is to visit as many attractions as possible in a day, you're not going to have the time or inclination to really appreciate all the little details that make up the park, and you're not going to get all that much out of this book. (And if I've just described you, you may want to reconsider how you visit a Disney park - trust me, you're missing out on a lot!) If you're a first-time visitor to the Disneyland Resort, I'd recommend getting a good guide book in addition to this book to help you plan your visit (consider the <em>Unofficial Guide to Disneyland </em>or the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Passporter</span> Disneyland Resort);</em> be sure to bring this book with you to refer to when you're in the park, though!<em> </em>There are a few factual and grammatical errors, but I don't think they really detract from the overall quality of the book.<em> </em></div><div></div><br /><div>I'd like to take a moment to discuss one of the bigger objections people might have to getting a copy of <em>Disney's California Adventure Detective - </em>namely, "The park's going to be totally different in a couple of years - why buy a book on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">DCA</span> now?" As you may know, Disney's announced a major construction and renovation project that will dramatically change Disney's California Adventure; when the project's done, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">DCA</span> is going to look a lot different from what it looks like now and is going to have a lot of new attractions. Keep in mind, however, that the project's going to be completed in phases and won't be fully complete until about 2012; while parts of this book already no longer reflect what's actually in the park and other parts of the book will soon no longer reflect what's there, a lot of the things that Kendra points out in her book are still there and will continue to be there for a while -- all the better reason to take a little time to learn about them and appreciate them now while you still can.</div><div></div><br /><div><em>Disney's California Adventure Detective </em>is a fun and enjoyable way to learn about the history, secrets and details that make one of Disney's newest theme parks a fun place to visit, and in the process the book challenges the notion that the theme park has very little to discover and enjoy. Some readers will appreciate the book as a historical snapshot of a theme park that will be radically different a few years from now, and others will appreciate having an expert guide to discovering and appreciating a Disney theme park. Either way, anyone who's interested in learning and discovering more about Disney's California Adventure should consider picking up a copy of this book. </div><div></div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-48767866760779508392008-10-07T16:10:00.000-07:002008-10-07T22:26:28.874-07:00Passport Ahoy!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SOxDLYTXZqI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/6kBCs_9o1PE/s1600-h/Passporter+DCL.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254648728015824546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SOxDLYTXZqI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/6kBCs_9o1PE/s200/Passporter+DCL.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">PassPorter's</span> Disney Cruise Line and its Ports of Call 2008 (Sixth Edition), by Jennifer and Dave Marx. Ann Arbor, MI: <span style="color:#ffff00;"><span style="color:#000000;">PassPorter Press/MediaMarx Inc.</span>.</span>, 2008; 352 pp. </em><br /><em></em><br />I'm in the process of preparing for my first cruise, which - surprise, surprise! - is going to be a Disney cruise. As you may recall, a few months ago in one of my first reviews, I talked about the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Birnbaum</span> Guide to the Disney Cruise Line</em>, which I thought was OK, but could have used a bit more information, especially about the cruise experience. While I was going through my local bookstore recently, I came across the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">PassPorter's</span> Disney Cruise Line and its Ports of Call; </em>all three of you folks out there who read my blog regularly may recall that I previously reviewed the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Passporter</span> Disneyland Resort</em> and I was pretty impressed, so I picked up this book in the hope that it'd be a big help in planning for my cruise as I'm sure that <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">PassPorter</span> Disneyland Resort</em> would be to someone planning a trip to Anaheim. After having read the book, I'm convinced that I made a great choice.<br /><br /><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">PassPorter's</span> Disney Cruise Line</em> (please forgive me for abbreviating the title!) is a comprehensive guide to the Disney Cruise Line experience. If Jennifer and Dave Marx don't provide just about every bit of information you might need for planning and enjoying a Disney cruise, they come pretty darned close. They thoroughly cover your options when booking a Disney cruise, including the different types of cruises available, the best times to go, and even the differences in stateroom categories, and give the reader tools and tips to help plan out their cruise itinerary and budget; they also cover everything happening <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">on board</span>, including dining and activities for various age groups. Jennifer and Dave also cover the ports visited by the Disney Cruise Line, giving the reader a rough lay of the land for each port, discussing the various port excursions offered by Disney (and alternatives to Disney-sponsored port excursions that might save passengers some money), and briefing the reader on activities that cruise passengers can pursue on their own. </div><div> </div><div>As you might expect from a <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">PassPorter</span></em> guide, the information is well organized and easy to review and refer to, and as with their other books, Jennifer and Dave are happy to share their thoughts and their readers' thoughts on the various elements that make up a Disney cruise. They even provide information about the latest Disney itineraries and ports of call and provide information <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">about</span> the new Disney cruise ships - information that was curiously missing from the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Birnbaum</span> Guide</em>.<br /><br />I was really impressed by <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Passporter's</span> Disney Cruise Line, </em>but it's not a perfect book. Fans of the ringed binder format of most <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">PassPorter</span></em> books and of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">PassPockets</span> for storing important documents and reminders of their vacation will be disappointed to learn that the book comes in a standard bound format, with nary a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">PassPocket</span> in sight (although you can pay a little more for the deluxe edition of the book and get it in the traditional format). It's not quite as colorful as the traditional <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">PassPorter</span></em> guides or the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Birnbaum</span> Guide</em>, and since it's not an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">official</span> Disney book, there aren't any photos of the Disney characters (although the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Marxes</span> include enough photos of their family enjoying the amenities of a Disney cruise that you'll still get a good idea what being <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">on board</span> is like). None of these faults is a deal-breaker, though.<br /><br /><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">PassPorter's</span> Disney Cruise Line and its Ports of Call</em> is a thorough and easy to use guide to just about everything you'd need to know to plan and get the most out of your Disney Cruise Line vacation. I think Disney could take a few lessons from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Marxes</span> on how to put together a guidebook to Disney cruises, as the book does a great job of providing almost all the information someone would need to plan, book, and prepare for a voyage on the <em>Disney Magic</em> or the <em>Disney Wonder. </em>If you can only pick up one guidebook to prepare for your Disney Cruise Line vacation, make it this one.</div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-25110394438956477872008-09-30T10:24:00.000-07:002008-09-30T18:23:15.892-07:00An Incomplete Look at Walt Disney World's Construction<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SOLPARFFCUI/AAAAAAAAAFI/o6avDFjGWYA/s1600-h/WWWD.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251987718959073602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SOLPARFFCUI/AAAAAAAAAFI/o6avDFjGWYA/s200/WWWD.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>What Would Walt Do?: An Insider's Story About the Design and Construction of Walt Disney World, by D.M. Miller. Lincoln, Nebraska: Writers Club Press/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">iUniverse</span>, 2001; 111 pp.</em><br /><em></em><br />As you may have guessed by some of the books I've previously reviewed, I'm one of those people that like to ask, "How did they do that?" <em></em>But when I ask that question, I don't usually mean that I just want to know about the tricks of the trade that make rides and attractions in a theme park possible. I'm equally fascinated by the stories of how amusement parks and theme parks came to be - the people who designed and built them and the process by which they were built. So I was really excited a couple of years ago when a website I like to frequent (all right, it was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">jimhillmedia</span>.com - hi, Jim!) mentioned a book that was about an insider's account of what it was like to build Walt Disney World. After reading the book, I was a little disappointed.<br /><br /><em>What Would Walt Do</em>? is the memoir of D.M. "Mike" Miller, an engineer who worked for a contractor involved in the construction of the Vacation Kingdom. Mike intersperses his personal history and his experiences of working and living in central Florida during the initial phase of Walt Disney World's construction with brief historical summaries and anecdotes about Walt and Roy Disney and others involved with the construction project. While Mike never got the chance to meet Walt and only got to meet principal executives like Roy Disney and Admiral Joe Fowler once or twice, he does have some interesting stories to tell about the folks who did the grunt work on the project, and about how Walt's influence inspired Disney and the people who worked for them to settle for nothing less than the highest quality work on the project.<br /><br />In spite of what the book's title might have you believe<em>, What Would Walt Do</em>? doesn't offer much new perspective about the decisions and the personalities that shaped Walt Disney World's construction. Unfortunately, Mike's position in the construction team's hierarchy didn't provide him much opportunity to interact with the key people on the construction project or to be there when key decisions were made. Mike tries to make up for it with the anecdotes he shares about Walt, Roy, and others, but most of these anecdotes are second-hand ones that he gleaned from other sources, so most readers who are into Disney history won't be reading anything about the key people that they haven't read before. This book is more about Mike than it is about Walt, which hurts the book; there's nothing wrong with a little biographical information to help set the story, but quite a bit of what's covered in the book, like <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">detailed</span> information about Mike's life before working on the World, his take on the mores and cultural values of the times he lived in, and his feelings about unions, are just distractions from the central topic.<br /><br />Does that mean that <em>What Would Walt Do? </em>isn't worth your time? Not necessarily. I enjoyed reading about what Orlando and central Florida was like before it became the theme park mecca of the world; Mike's description of what life was like for him in Orlando in the late 60s and early 70s provides an incredible contrast to Orlando as we know it today. Mike had the opportunity to work with some interesting people on the Walt Disney World construction project, and the stories he tells are fascinating, even if they don't have all that much relevance to the book's main topic. Mike tells a pretty good story, but if you're a Disney fan looking for the story of how Walt Disney World came to be, Mike doesn't have all that much to tell you.<br /><br /><em>What Would Walt Do</em>? is an interesting look into the life of one of the folks who did the important construction-related work that made Walt Disney World possible, and it provides the reader with a look into what it was like to work on what was then one of America's largest construction projects. Unfortunately, the book's title might lead a reader to expect a lot more from this book than the author can deliver. If you're looking for a general history of Walt Disney World's construction and early years of operation, I'd recommend picking up a copy of <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Realityland</span> </em>by David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Koenig</span> and then getting this book as supplemental reading; this book would probably also make a good supplement to a general history of Orlando and central Florida, as well. But if you're looking for a book that's going to provide you with a lot of insight into how and why things happened the way they did or tell you something new about major players in the story of Walt Disney World, you'll probably be disappointed.</div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-39265009427399282572008-09-12T12:25:00.000-07:002008-09-13T17:50:40.784-07:00Tangent Review: A Look Back at Orange County Amusement Parks<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SMxf1uwhkFI/AAAAAAAAAFA/FmCOvPmbjlg/s1600-h/Early+Parks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245673042669047890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SMxf1uwhkFI/AAAAAAAAAFA/FmCOvPmbjlg/s200/Early+Parks.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>Images of America: Early Amusement Parks of Orange County, by Richard Harris. Charleston SC, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">et</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">al</span>.: Arcadia Publishing, 2008; 127 pp.</em><br /><em></em><br />Are you ready for a shock? When I was growing up, I didn't spend all my leisure time at Disneyland. It's not that I wasn't as crazy for Disney back then as I am now; it's just that there were a lot of different things you could do in Southern California, and my dad wanted to do as many of them as he could. (Of course, the fact that Disneyland wasn't cheap even back then and there were no such things as annual passports may have also influenced his decisions as to where to go.) As a result, I got the chance to see a lot of places that are sadly now long gone, like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Movieland</span> Wax Museum, Lion Country Safari, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Marineland</span> of the Pacific, and many others. Today's review is about a book that may bring back some memories of long-since-vanished leisure attractions. It sure did for me.<br /><br />Chances are that you're already familiar with at least a couple of the books in Arcadia's <em>Images of America </em>series, which feature collections of historical photographs of numerous communities throughout the nation. One of the latest books in the series<em>, Early Amusement Parks of Orange County </em>(that's California, by the way, not Florida), is a collection of photographs and other images from attractions that operated in Southern California. Some of the parks featured are well-known worldwide (Disneyland, of course, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Knott's</span> Berry Farm), some were pretty well known to southern Californians in their day (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Movieland</span> Wax Museum, Lion Country Safari, Japanese Village), and some of the attractions featured may tax the memory of even the most devoted amusement park goer (Gram Paw Mac's in Garden Grove, Old MacDonald's Farm in Mission <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Viejo</span>). Most of the photos appear to be publicity shots that found their way into local historical archives, but the book also features images of things like advertising and ticket media. There are captions accompanying each photograph to provide a little context and brief paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter provide a little background, but let's be honest here - most folks aren't going to bother with the text, and the photos are so much fun that I can't blame them.<br /><br />I really enjoyed this book. It's not exactly the most demanding book in the world, but I spent a lot of time looking through it anyway; Richard Harris apparently knows his Orange County amusement parks well enough to skip some of the more commonly seen photographs of the attractions and present historical photos that many people reading this book may not have seen before. The text... well, I could take it or leave it; the information's interesting, bust most of it sounds cribbed from local newspapers or general histories of Orange County. But as I said before, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">nobody's</span> gonna buy this book for the text.<br /><br />My only other complaint about <em>Early Amusement Parks of Orange County</em> also has to do with the text of the book - or more correctly, what's not part of the text. A book like this would be really served well by some sort of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">bibilography</span>; I'm sure that there will be amusement and theme park <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">afficionadoes</span> like me that will look at this book and want to learn more about some of the places and things they see, but there are no references to start them on their searches. I realize this won't be that big a deal to most people who buy this book, but a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">bibilography</span> would have been nice.<br /><br /><em>Early Amusement Parks of Orange County </em>is a fun way to relive memories of amusement parks you may have visited in years gone by - or to experience a little of these places, if you never knew they existed before picking up this book. It's not deep reading, and it's not cheap ($19.95 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">MSRP</span> for a 127-page book?!?), but it is very enjoyable. If you're a theme park fan - Disney or otherwise - this is a book you should pick up.</div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-77526201761441269882008-08-25T18:58:00.000-07:002008-08-26T22:14:04.188-07:00Getting To Know Legendary Imagineers<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SLTfDoPkAXI/AAAAAAAAADU/s0Zg9yLl3Q8/s1600-h/Legends+of+WDI.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239057519974023538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SLTfDoPkAXI/AAAAAAAAADU/s0Zg9yLl3Q8/s200/Legends+of+WDI.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><em>Walt Disney's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Imagineering</span> Legends and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park, by Jeff <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kurtti</span>. New York: Disney Editions, 2008, 141 pp.</em><br /><em></em><br />Once upon a time (actually, 53 years ago, give or take a little), a place that was unlike anything people had ever seen before was created on some former farmland in Anaheim, California. People came there expecting a typical amusement park or a carnival, if they had any idea what to expect at all, and instead encountered a place that allowed them to step into the past, the future, and into realms of adventure and fantasy; they found a place where people of all ages could leave the real world for a little while and have fun together. One man got the credit from the public for bringing the world this new and exciting place, but he didn't create it all by himself. The fact was, that man did something even more amazing. He brought together a group of people with a wide variety of talents - some of which the people didn't even realize they had! - and inspired them with his vision as their guide to create someplace special, a place that would set the standard for places like it all over the world. We know a lot about the man - Walt Disney - and the place he inspired - Disneyland - but many people don't know all that much about the group of people that he brought together, and how each of those people contributed to the creation of Walt's dream. Jeff <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kurtti</span> decided to write a book to fix that, and he did an amazing job.<br /><br /><em>Walt Disney's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Imagineering</span> Legends</em> tells the stories of twenty-nine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Imagineers, </span>their contributions to the Disney theme parks, and to the art and science of I<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">magineering</span>. The book also tells us a lot about the man Jeff dubs "the first <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Imagineer</span>" - Walt himself - by sharing how each of them related to Walt and how Walt's ideas , desires, and expectations affected what they did and what they created. If you've learned something about the history of Disney and of the Disney theme parks, the names of the folks you'll meet in this book may already be familiar to you, and you might be aware of some of the things they've accomplished, but most likely you've never learned as much about them and what they did as you'll learn from this book. Jeff does a great job telling the reader a lot about these folks in very few pages; even though I like to think that I know quite a bit about the folks profiled by Jeff in this book, I still managed to learn several things about each of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Imagineers</span> profiled that I didn't know.<br /><br />Jeff breaks up the Imagineering legends' profiles into several sections, tying groups of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Imagineers</span> together by the work they specialized in, such as concept art, model making, and music. A few of the folks profiled by Jeff don't fit neatly into categories of specialization, so Jeff created separate sections to profile their contributions to the I<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">magineering</span> of the Disney theme parks; one person in particular was so knowledgeable about so many different interests that he's honored with his own section as WDI's "Renaissance Imagineer". Each section of the book starts out with a quote by Walt that ties into that particular specialty of Imagineering. It's a fun way to highlight the contributions of the folks being profiled.<br /><br />Jeff's goal in writing the profiles in this book was to provide enough information on each person that the reader can learn something new about the background and the personality of each person being profiled, but he doesn't <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">throw</span> so much information at the the reader that he or she feels like they're going to drown in a sea of facts. Jeff even thoughtfully provides a good selection of footnotes to the profiles to make sure the reader understands the significance of something tangentially mentioned in an interview or in an excerpt from another work. There's a nice selection of photographs and art with each profile, so you'll get a feel for what each person has done, but the images also serve to remind the reader that there was an actual person behind the things that they've seen and experienced at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Disney</span> theme parks.<br /><br />Are there any problems with <em>Walt Disney's Legends of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Imagineering</span>? </em>Well, I wish that Disney and Jeff hadn't kept us all waiting so long for this book's release (this book was originally scheduled for publication about three years ago), but I can't find too much to complain about as far as the content. I suppose someone could complain that there should have been more Imagineering <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">concept</span> artwork, illustrations, and photographs of the actual attractions in the book as opposed to publicity photographs of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Imagineers</span> from WED/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">WDI</span> and the D<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">isney Photo Library</span> , but such a complaint misses an important point - namely, that this book is intended to acquaint the reader with the <em>people </em>who created the attractions and experiences, not the attractions.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Books that acquaint the reader with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Imagineering</span> and Imagineers can generally be divided into two categories: "Image books", which feature so many wonderful images of Disney concept art and attraction illustrations that you just might be tempted to skip the text, and "reader's books", which provide interesting reading but not as much in the way of illustrations that you haven't seen before. Jeff's book is definitely a "reader's book" and doesn't feature a lot of illustrations devoted fans of Disney history and Disney theme parks haven't seen somewhere else, but again, I think that's the point -- there are several good books out there featuring some of the art produced by the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Imagineers</span> (a couple of which Jeff has had a hand in creating), but this is the first book I've seen about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Imagineering</span> that really wants the reader to spend time appreciating the creators of the magic instead of appreciating their creations.<br /><br /><em>Walt Disney's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Imagineering</span> Legends</em> is a fascinating look at the people who made Walt Disney's theme park dreams a reality and who set standards for creativity, artistry, and practical applications of technology that were the benchmark for not only the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Imagineers</span> that followed them but an entire industry. A famous quote of Walt's states that it takes people to make the dream a reality. This book is a great way to get to know some of those people a little better. If you're a fan of the Disney parks, take a little time to read this book -- I think that afterwards you'll appreciate what you experience at the parks even more.</div></div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8225849977474743595.post-61543523406020597992008-08-08T19:37:00.000-07:002008-08-08T21:01:43.491-07:00Hide and Seek with Mickey at Disneyland<em></em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SJ0RD-_gEEI/AAAAAAAAADE/nTEf1jfLpY0/s1600-h/dhm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232357102221004866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tx81AaEvy3c/SJ0RD-_gEEI/AAAAAAAAADE/nTEf1jfLpY0/s200/dhm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Disneyland <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Resort's</span> Best Kept Secrets, by Steven M. Barrett. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Branford</span>, CT: The Intrepid Traveler, 2007, 94 pp.</em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div>At the Disney theme parks, the magic is in the details. The thing that makes the parks so special is the wealth of hidden (and not so hidden) details that individually may not seem like a big deal , but that together enhance your overall theme park experience. One of the details that's captivated a lot of Disney fans are little things known as "hidden Mickeys"; over the years, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Imagineers</span> have left their mark on the attractions and environments they've created by leaving partial or complete images of the world's most favorite Mouse (and a few of his pals) in the designs of those attractions and environments. Some folks at Disney claim that there are no such things as hidden Mickeys. Other folks acknowledge their existence, but can't confirm where they may be - the Walt Disney Company has never taken up the task of documenting them, as far as anyone knows. Like many things at the Disney theme parks, it's up to you to discover hidden Mickeys for yourself - but that doesn't mean you can't get a little help from a master hidden Mickey hunter.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Five years ago, Steve Barrett wrote a book called <em>Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets, </em>where he told his readers about these hidden treasures and provided a series of scavenger hunts so that folks could search for a few of these treasures themselves. Well, the book was so successful that Steve created a sequel, this time covering the hidden Mickeys that can be found at the Disneyland Resort. In a brief but fascinating introduction, Steve explains how the phenomenon of hidden Mickeys got started and some ground rules for determining what is and what isn't a true hidden Mickey, and then sends you off all over the Disneyland Resort in search of more than 170 hidden Mickeys. The scavenger hunts are organized into three sections - one for each theme park and one for the Downtown Disney district and the Disney hotels. The Mickeys are rated on a point scale in terms of how difficult they are to find, so you can test your hidden Mickey spotting prowess against Steve, or you, your friends, and family can challenge each other to see who's the greatest hidden Mickey finder of all. </div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div>I have to admit that I'm never much been into hidden Mickeys, and I'm awful at spotting them (you practically have to lead me right to a hidden Mickey for me to spot it, no matter how obvious it is), so I approached <em>Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys</em> with a little trepidation. Well, it turns out that I really shouldn't have worried. Although I won't talk about how well (or should I say how badly) I did at finding the hidden Mickeys in Steve's scavenger hunts, I did have a lot of fun learning about them, and I had a good time trying to find them using the clues in Steve's book. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The nicest thing about <em>Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys</em> is that you have a lot of options as far as using the book. For example, if you're not in the mood to go on a full-blown hidden Mickey scavenger hunt, Steve has thoughtfully included an index of locations in the back of the book so you can look for a Mickey while you're headed to or in line for your favorite Disneyland or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DCA</span> attraction. Totally clueless as to where that Mickey you're trying to find is? Steve has provided hints in separate sections from the scavenger hunts for when you get frustrated in your search. The book is compact enough that you can toss it into your bag or your back pocket and pull it out to go Mickey hunting when the urge strikes you. There's even a website associated with the book where you, Steve, and other hidden Mickey hunters can share (or debate) your discoveries. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, are there any downsides to <em>Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys? </em>Except for the very real possibility of blowing a good part of your day at <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">the</span> theme parks hunting for hidden Mickeys, I can't think of any. Obviously, if you intend to do other things during your visit to Disneyland besides hunt for hidden Mickeys, you're gonna need another book to get you around. If your time is really limited at Disneyland or this is your first visit, you may want to forgo this book until you're able to devote some time to the scavenger hunts - but as I mentioned above, you do have the option of just looking for hidden Mickeys while you're waiting to ride an attraction by using the index. Aside from that, I have no real complaints.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys </em>is a fun and easy way to introduce yourself to one of the more unusual aspects of the Disney theme parks. If nothing else, you'll learn to really pay attention to the little details that make up the parks, but more likely, you and your family will also have a lot of fun looking for a few of Disneyland's hidden treasures. Pick up a copy before you head to Anaheim or pick one up at one of many locations throughout the resort, and keep your eyes open - you never know where that Mouse may be hiding!</div>Paul Schnebelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14314483282391993248noreply@blogger.com0